Method of administering therapeutic light treatments



n. x. TUTTLE. METHOD 0F ADMINISTERING THERAPEUTIC LIGHT TREATMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-14,192].

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOY x. mums, or BATTLE cnnmr, 1103mm.

I METHOD OF ADKHVISTEBJNG TIIEEAIEUTIC LIGHT TREATKENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application filed Iebruary 14, 1921. Serial No. 444,893.

Y treatments.

v for therapeutic effects is that the continuous ice or subject the surface to a cold air blast,

One of the objections or difliculties met in the prolongedapplication of light in its use heat congests the part treated and proper blood and lymph movement is interfered with thereby depriving the tissues of the healing and cleansing effects of frequent blood changes and, further, the treatment becomes 'so disagreeable and painful that the patient is likely to object andinsist on the termination of the treatment.

overcome thisby having an attendant rub the. exposed surface or make applications of The first two methods require the constant service of an attendant; there is a lack of uniformity, and carelessness and want of skill on the part of the attendant has a very material bearing on the result of the treat ment.

It isthe main object of my invention to 1 provide a method in which the therapeutic light treatments may be efiectively administered and alternate heating and cooling producedtoiprevent congestion and frequent blood changes in the part to"v be treated and a treatment which is not pain- I urther objects will appear as the descrip- Fig. II.

Fig. II is a detail view partially in'secshown partially in section on line 11 of i tion through the thermal flasher on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. Fig. III is a diagrammat c view illustrating the wiring for the lamp and flasher.

. ters Patent is: c

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines,

In practising my improved method of treatment an electric lamp, as 1, provided with a suitable'reflector is directed against the part to be treated. The'efliciency of light treatment has been demonstrated and is well understood by those skilled in the art, but skill and care has been required in administering the same in order to secure the result sought and without causing the patient pain or even injury.

My improved method is to direct the lamp or light of an intensity greater than can be endured for a considerable period against the part to be treated and automatically interrupting the light at substantially regular intervals and for substantially unlform periods, thereby alternately exposing the part Attempts have been made to avoid or nected to the binding post 6. The thermo static elementis bowed so that by its expan sion it comes in contact with the contact point 7 which is cennected to the binding post 8 to which one of the circuit wires 9 is connected, as shown in Fig. I.

The contact 7 is adjustable so that the flashing riods may be regulated.

With t 's simple arrangement the current is turned on for a predetermined period and off for a substantially predetermined period and alternate heatin and cooling of the surface is secured, 't e lamp being cut off for a sufiicient period to allow the surface to coolto a point securing the desired result in the matter of the flow ofblood to and from the treated part and preventing an access of blood or congestion and preventing such overheating as would be injurious or disagreeable or painful to the patient.

'Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to-secure by Let- 1. The method of administering treatments consisting of directing a amp against the part to be treated, such lamp being of a heating capacity greater than can be en-' dured on a continuous'exposure and automatically interrupting the light at substantialiy regular intervals-and for substantially orm periods, thereby alternately exposing the part to thelight and heat and permatting it to cool, the cooling periods being relatively short.

2. The method of administering treatments consisting of directing a lamp against.

the part to be treated, such lamp being of a heating capacity greater than can be endured on a continuous exposure and interrupting the light at intervals for substantially uniform periods, thereby alternately and cooling the part.-

heatlgg 3. he method of admlnistering treatments consisting of directing a lamp against the part to be treated, suchlamp being of a heating capacity greater than can be endured on a-continuous exposure and interrupting the light at intervals, thereby alternately heating the part and permitting it to cool.

4. lhe method of administering treatments consisting of directing an electric lamp against the part to be treated, the lamp being in circuit with a thermal flasher whereby the current is interrupted at intervals, thereby providing an alternateheatiggl and cooling of the part treated.

5, e method of administering treatments consisting of directing an electric lamp provided with arefiector against the part to be treated, and automatically' inter- 'rupting the current to the lamp so that the part is alternately heated and cooled for substantially uniform periods.

In Witness whereof, I-have hereunto set my .hand and seal in the presence of .two witnesses.

Witnesses ERANons C. G NNING,

Norms E. GOODBICH. 

